Last Updated on May 15, 2024
Elderflower Tom Collins with environmentally friendly Mermaid Gin from the Isle of Wight
Mermaid gin is truly unmissable. Their glass bottle is iconic – sculpted to look like scales from the mermaid that is the gin’s namesake and a beautiful deep blue colour. Decorated with biodegradable paint, with a natural cork, wooden top and paper seal it’s the perfect example of how we should be moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle but shouldn’t have to compromise our aesthetic values. It’s one of those bottles that has real shelf appeal.
The distillery, based on the Isle of Wight is also working on a number of sustainability projects. They have Net Zero status and have been plastic-free for two years. They invest in projects including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Surfers against Sewage and more to help protect the environment as best they can. Their programme with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust aims to monitor and restore seagrass meadows in the waters surrounding the Isle of Wight. And, they are also working with One Seed, a community forestry social enterprise that works to replant forests, one seed at a time. As well as creating initiatives to support environments, they also aim to educate and work towards fighting poverty and hunger.
Now, none of this would work if the gin they produced didn’t live up to expectations. Thankfully it does and I’m enjoying drinking it as a straight gin and tonic and even just sipping it slowly. The main botanicals include Rock Samphire, elderflower, liquorice root, juniper, grains of paradise and Boadicea hops (the most environmentally friendly hop which is naturally aphid resistant. While I’m enjoying it straight, I love the challenge of finding the right classic cocktail to make with each spirit I try – and for Mermaid Gin I decided that an Elderflower Collins would be perfect. The Elderflower Collins is a truly simple drink to make – a mix of gin, fresh lemon juice, elderflower cordial or liqueur and soda water. It doesn’t need a cocktail mixer, just enough ice to fill a Collins glass. I made mine using St Germain, a favourite elderflower cordial which seems to make every cocktail I try taste even better.
Here’s the recipe if you’d like to try an Elderflower Collins yourself.
An easy recipe for a gin cocktail with St Germain - Elderflower Collins
- 1 large Lemon
- 50 ml Mermaid gin
- 25 ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 125 ml Soda Water I used Mexican lime soda
- Ice
- 2 slices Lemon To garnish
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Squeeze the lemon into a jug.
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Add the Mermaid Gin and St Germain
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Stir well
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Fill two collins glasses with ice
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Add the gin mixture to the glasses
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Top up each glass with soda water
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Stir gently
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Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon
Now, if you’d like to try an Elderflower Tom Collins for yourself, Mermaid Gin is available from various online suppliers including from The Isle of Wight Distillery (where it is made) and from John Lewis, Tescos, Harvey Nichols, M&S, Fenwick and Waitrose at an RRP of £38
Over ice, dash of lemonade and slice of lime and lemon.
As a coffee negroni after being inspired by the Mermaid Gin instagram feed! Also would love to experiment with different herbs from the garden as garnishes to a G&T.
With soda and lime slice
I enjoy it with just some ice.
With tonic and lots of ice
With tonic, lime and ice
With bitter lemon, ice and a slice
with tonic and ice
Over ice with tonic water, strawberries and raspberries
My favourite way to serve gin is with some ice, lemon and lemonade
I like it with some elderflower tonic water.
I’d love to serve it over ice and with pink tonic
With tonic and a slice of lime
With lemonade, loads of ice and strawberries ??
Ice, Mermaid gin, light tonic water, splash of lime and some strawberries on top! Perfect!
I like tonic, ice and lime.
With ice and bitter lemon is my favourite way.
I’ve not tried Mermaid gin before but I really like gin with cream soda, a dash of raspberry lemonade and a frozen raspberry in it!
Just love a G&T
Mermaid gin, Fevertree Mediterranean tonic, I’ve and slice lemon
I like my gin with tonic and a slice of lime over ice.
With Pomelo tonic water
With some elderflower tonic water
G&T, lime and ice
With ice and a slice and fever tree tonic!
With a good quality tonic and slice of orange
I love the Mermaid Pink Gin with lemonade and a slice of lemon xxx
With lemonade and some fresh strawberries
slimline tonic and frozen berries
G&T with lemon
I love it with cloudy lemonade and ice
I love Mermaid pink gin, I like it with tonic or lemonade
I like to drink it with lemonade
With ice, classic
Lemon gin, Limonata Sanpellegrino, ice ???
Traditionally with tonic and lemon
A few ice balls, big wedge of lime and a dash of tonic water
Lots of ice, tonic and a squeeze of lemon
Just with tonic, ice and slice of lime.
With tonic and frozen raspberries
WoW! great prize.
With Ice and tonic
id quite like to try it on it’s own as it has some delicious ingredients like sapphire and liquorice
Lemonade and Ice, sometimes with a slice of lemon
With a little lemonade and ice.
Tonic water, ice and a slice of lemon or lime
With ice and lemonade
Served with some of my homemade rhubarb cordial! I don’t drink, but I’d love to win this to share with my loved ones this Christmas! <3
Simply served with a wedge of lime
Would love chilled with ice and pink lemonade
With tonic water and fresh raspberries.
i like mine with elderflower tonic and fresh raspberries
with a slice of lime and splash of lemonade
Over ice with tonic and a slice of lime
Either by creating a cocktail or wiith some lemonade and frozen fruit
I definitely enjoy it with lemonade and frozen fruits like strawberry and raspberries ?
Loads of ice, elderflower tonic and a few fresh berries
tonic water
Lemon and lime lots of ice and lemonade yum
with tonic , ice and lemon
ice and a slice–and a good quality tonic water
I like mine in an espresso martini ? (I swap the vodka for it)
With lemonade and ice
I’d drink it with tonic water, ice cubes, and a slice of lemon.
Over ice with maybe lemonade
I’ve never tried it but would serve with ice and lemonade
With lemonade and a slice of lemon
I like my mermaid gin with Mediterranean tonic from fever tree
Hitting all the quailty and sustainability points, and pretty too
Bitter Lemon & Ice
With Lemonade ice and a slice of lime for me!
With Bitter Lemon and ice.
Just with ice and a lovely tonic! simple 🙂
With ice and a slice of lime plus slimline tonic
With ice-cold tonic!
I serve it with an Aromatic Tonic and a slice of grapefruit! Many thanks
With tonic and a slice of lemon and some ice
Ice and lemonade
On the rocks with lemonade!
On the rocks with lemonade – good luck everyone and stay safe ???☃️
with ice
Oh I’d try a few different ways to drink it but firstly it would be lemonade because I know I’d enjoy it and then I would experiment with a few different cordials etc ?
I would drink it with lemonade <3
an old school G&T with a slice of lemon
With lemonade.
I like it just with elderflower cordial
With tonic, ice and a slice of lemon
Tonic water
With fever tree tonic and a slice of lime.
with premium indian tonic, lots of ice and a slice of grapefruit
definitely with tonic and a few berries
Definitely Tonic & ice
With ice and slimline tonic
Within a G&T but this recipe is very tempting!
With Tonic and a slice of Lemon
Perfect with Fever Tree Indian Tonic, ice and lemon twist
Next to the sea somewhere tropical!
Lemonade and ice x ?
Perfect with tonic and ice
Lemonade, ice and a slice of lemon
Keep it simple serve it with tonic
just ice and a slice…
Tonic Water with limes
With a slices of lemon.
Ice & lemonade
With tonic, ice and a slice every time
With lemonade and ice
With lemonade and strarwberries
Tonic, ice and a slice of lemon
I’ve never drunk gin so I would try this with lemonade
with a Luscombe Drinks Organic Sicilian Lemonade! Lovely!
With tonic and lime everytime for me
In a large glass
With lemonade and some sliced fruit!
With tonic water and a dash of lime
Tonic and ice for me
Best way to serve Isle of Wight Mermaid??♀️Gin? is over a large amount of ice in a bowl glass, a light tonic with a garnish of samphire from Newtown Creek and if your sat overlooking The Solent? it tastes perfect
with elderflower tonic and ice and mint leaves
With a splash of refreshing lemonade and ice
With tonic & ice
I love making a Bramble cocktail
With lemonade
With a good tonic and a slice!!
With lemonade
With lemonade and ice.
I have never tried it. It sounds lovely. But I normally serve my gin over ice with a dash of lemonade and a slice of lime.
I’ve never tried Mermaid gin, but most likely would use it in a Gin Fizz or Classic Gin Martini. The bottle looks fabulous.
at home with pure joy!
I think it will work no matter what you mix it with as long as you keep the bottle on show…it’s fab!!
With lemonade and ice
I’ve never tried this Gin but the bottle is simply beautiful. I’d probably serve over ice with lemonade or a rose lemonade as that’s my favourite
If its a nice gin then over ice with a slice of lemon. If I’m wanting a long drink then it’s lots of ice and some lemonade. Delicious ?
With lemonade! The perfect sweet combo
Slimline tonic and lemon
tonic and some lime!
I like mine with lemonade and ice
With ice and a slice
I love it with some rose lemonade and ice
with proper tonic (not slimline!!!) and a slice of lemon
With lemonade and ice!
Perfect with tonic water!
with tonic water
Tonic and ice
With lots of ice and lemon.
Love mine with bitter lemon and ice!
I like it with fresh orange juice and ice
Icy cold with tonic and some lovely cheese on the side!
Tonic and a slice of lemon
I love mine with tonic and ice
ice & lemonaid
Neat. no tonic required
I’d like to try this in a Vesper Martini, so I can feel like a bit of a Bond girl!
Over ice
I’ve never tried it before but I would probably have it with lemonade and cherries. That’s how I usually drink gin.
with lemonade and ice
I’ve never tried mermaid gin before but I’d love it with lemonade
With an Indian tonic, ice and a slice of lemon!
Over ice with cranberry juice
With an Indian tonic, ice and a slice of lemon!
I would love it on the rocks
Tonic Ice & lemon
I like to be able to appreciate the taste of the gin, so just ice and a splash of tonic
Ice lemonade and slice of lemon
With ice and lemonade
With tonic lots of ice and good company.
Ice and lemonade
With tonic, ice and a slice of lime
I would serve this gin with lemonade and a slice of lemon and some ice cubes
Nothing better than tonic and ice!
With tonic or lemonade
Tonic 🙂
I lobe it with Rhubarb tonic and ice
Ice and lemonade
Ice and a slice – perfect
I like a sugar free tonic with fruit slices and ice
I like mine with lite tonic, lime and cardamom pods.
I like it with cranberry juice. Failing that lemonade or coke. I am a classy bird as you can tell.
With tonic water and a slice of lime but no ice
Raspberry Collins is my favourite
A gin sling with ice
Over ice with indian tonic water and a squeeze of lime
Classic Gin and Tonic for me, I love elderflower though so will give this a try!
I’ve not tried Mermaid Gin yet. I always try a new gin in a dry martini as you really get to appreciate all the botanicals that way.
Ice and lemonade
Classic Gin and Tonic with Ice and a slice – cannot be beaten!
As a Gibson martini
Served with ice and lemonade
I love mine with ice and lemonade
I do enjoy trying new gin cocktails but left to my own devices, I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I do love a straightforward G&T. A generous glug of Mermaid Gin on the rocks – perhaps a splash of elderflower cordial – then topped up with Fevertree’s Mediterranean tonic water. Absolute bliss!
I love it with plent of ice and Fevertree Elderflower tonic. Delicious!
I’m a bit boring and just like my gin with a good tonic and some ice. Sometimes I add a slice of lime, or some raspberries
With fever tree tonic water and a little ice.
In a classic Tom Collins cocktail.
with tonic
I like a gin-style mojito.
slimline tonic and some frozen fruit
With Tia Maria and diet cola
Slimline tonic, ice and a slice + perfection.
Mediterranean tonic water and lots of Lime – Perfect
with a quality tonic and a squeeze of fresh lime
With slimline tonic, lots of ice and a slice of lime
Not sure yet, but if I win it, I’ll jolly well find out!
with a bit of lemonade 🙂 xx
I like it with diet cola myself.
Neat, on the rocks
Over ice with tonic water
With a good quality Tonic and Ice.
With lemonade and maybe some ice.
with diet lemonade
I like to have it with some ice.
Some lemonade and a fresh slice of lime!
I like it with lemonade and ice and a couple of mint leaves
With pineapple juice
Tonic for me
With elderflower tonic water – delicious.
Tell me your favourite way to serve Mermaid gin
with a quality tonic and good friends
Just love a classic G&T with ice – lovely with a slice of lemon and lime too!
Gin & Tonic with ice
Soda water, a dash of lime cordial and ice.
I love it with bitter lemon and ice, you just can’t beat it.
ice and a slice,with tonic
Tall Glass, slice of lime and maybe some lime cordial on ice
I love mine served with Tonic Water and a slice of lemon
I love it with Lemonade & Ice and a Slice of Lemon and some Fresh Strawberries.
With lots of berries I think in a long glass! Thanks for this giveaway, my mum loves gin!
The bottle designs are stunning! The fact they have Gin in is a bonus!
I love mine served with Tonic Water and Juniper berries.
NEAT!!!!
I’m so basic, I just want it with a good tonic and ice
Love the flavour of elderflower, will definitely be giving this a try
Tonic water and a slice of lime
I love Mermaid gin with tonic and a slice of lemon
im traditional – with ice, lemon and tonic
With a good, very cold tonic (no ice) and a slice of lemon!
It is with ice and a slice and some good, natural tonic.
I would love it with a flavoured tonic over ice. Lovely.
Straight from the bottle with a curly straw. I’m classy.
I like to serve it with ice cold orange juice, no ice or garnishes, just simple and ready to drink.
Chilled, with creme soda
With tonic and lemon
Some lemonade, ice, and maybe a lemon!
With a good tonic plus ice and either lemon, lime or orange
Got to be with a good tonic and some ice, and served to friends as well.
I love mine with a bitter lemonade and icee
I love to serve it with a good quality tonic with plenty of ice and a slice of lime
I would add a good quality Tonic and maybe a slice of cucumber which is such a refreshing drink.
with Feverfew tonic
With lemonade and ice is my favourite
Some nice quality tonic, slices of cucumber & ice
With lemonade for me
My favourite cucumber tonic and loads of ice.
With Slimline Tonic and ice – delicious.
With a really good quality simple tonic so you keep the taste of the gin… boom
Tonic and lemon slice x
With some ginger beer 😀
Is it bad to say neat? or possibly over a bit of crushed ice….
The classic tonic with lemon and ice.
With some lemonade
With clementine juice and a wedge, and light tonic
With lemonade and some frozen berries
over ice with a splash of water and a splash of lime cordial
I’ve never had the pleasure of Mermaid Gin but enjoy a gin on the rocks with a little bitter lemon.
with a good tonic
I like it with a splash of cloudy lemonade.
Served with Rose Lemonade. I don’t like the taste of tonic waters.
That would be with Elderflower Cordial as an Elderflower Cooler.
I’d usually just go for tonic and lemon but the Elderflower Collins recipe looks amazing
Tonic, ice and a slice of lemon
Just with tonic
A friend gave me a glass mixed with ginger beer
With tonic and lime.
My favourite way to serve Mermaid gin is with Mediterranean Gin and a slice of Orange. Make sure the measure is large too!
With lemonade and a slice of orange
over ice and a drop lemonade
Simply with Tonic and Cucumber
I just really enjoy a classic G&T with some ice
Love my gin with elderflower tonic but this Elderflower Collins sounds gintastic, so will have to try this one.
Maybe some would consider it boring, but for me a classic G&T is the only way to appreciate a really good gin. I find that fancy cocktails mask the taste of the gin.